Szechwan Peppercorns

Szechwan peppercorns are called “flower pepper” in Chinese, an allusion to the brown, flower-like open pod. They grow on a bush and often come complete with the tiny, slightly bitter black seeds in addition to an array of twigs, thorns, and tiny leaves. Look for bags that feature pods, not seeds. Szechwan peppercorns are indigenous to China and are a member of the botanical family called fagara. This makes them totally unrelated to our black and white peppercorns, which the Chinese naturally call “barbarian pepper.”